Seeing Adam had a specific covenant with Christ in the Garden of Eden of which Eve was not included as a participant, we understand the way in which Jesus intended the words in John 12:47-50: “And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects Me, and receives not My word has One that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day.” It is evident that Christ will be a “judge of the quick and the dead” but there will another judge of the unrighteous dead, God the Father. The unrighteous are not under covenant with Christ!! Christ is NOT their high priest!!
How was this brought about, you ask? Adam and Eve were judged by different standards in the Garden of Eden, I answer. Eve was judged by the law of the conscience given all mankind, Adam by the law of the conscience AND the specific law not to eat the forbidden fruit, the fruit of the tree of good and evil. Eve participated in helping Satan cause Adam to violate his covenant with Christ and for that she was made to have pain and anguish in child bearing (from the language of the text we learn that Eve had already borne children, but with no pain). Adam fell short of the “glory” Christ expected him to measure up to (Romans 3:23), AND violated the law of the conscience of which Eve was held accountable. By abusing the law of the conscience, Adam had to “earn his food by the sweat of his brow” (of course, no one thinks this was the first time Adam had eaten) and for the violation of the covenant specific to him, made with him by Christ-not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam put himself in a position Eve had not put herself, Adam had sinned. If it be asked if there were two sinners in the Garden of Eden, the answer would be NO! Again, inspiration tells us: “the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:14
Many from lack of watching the language refer to 2 Corinthians 5:10 which reads: “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ: that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” The ones standing before the tribunal of Christ are the “children of the kingdom.” There is NO WAY Christ can judge those who are not apart of the Kingdom! Paul writes: “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not you judge them that within? But them that are without God judges (not Christ). Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:10-11
Farmer Cain was NOT under the same law as was his father Adam. Cain was told to sacrifice a lamb. Adam was NOT. Cain chose, instead, to offer the fruit of the ground. Cain did not understand the purpose for the type offering God demanded. Because his twin brother obeyed (believed) the voice of Christ and offered the lamb, Cain “rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Genesis 4:7 Did Adam ever offer the wrong sacrifice? It is not written that Adam EVER offered a sacrifice at all. Why you might ask? Adam’s covenant with Christ DID NOT include the offering of sacrifices (or if it did it is no where stated). Cain’s offering did not picture the coming death of Christ as did Abel’s sacrifice. “Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fallen.” Genesis 4:6 Christ tried to reason with Cain; “why are you so immediately out of sorts?” “You have NO REASON to react so violently, it is not Abel who made the Law or compact, it is God-why are you mad at Abel?” Cain ought to have been rejoicing- God had set before Cain the way of life, not some penalty for Adam’s sin, the rules were just and equitable to each man. Cain had not YET sinned, Abel never sinned! God only denies His favor to those who reject His Laws!! God fore-knew Cain’s rebellion and anger, came to his side and pleaded with him: “before you offer” repent of your childish pouting and follow the tenants given you.” Because Cain rejected God’s plea, sin was at the door-chargeable to Cain. So high a charge would have not been laid at Cain’s feet IF Christ had no respect to His commands. Man cannot chose which or if any Laws from God they might want to nor not want to obey. Jeremiah wrote: Thus saith the Lord; “if you can break My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season: Then may also My covenant be broken with David My servant, ‘that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, My ministers…and cast away the seed of Jacob and David My servant.” Jeremiah 33:20-26
